Henry Timms

Executive Director

Henry Timms is executive director of 92nd Street Y, the world-class, 21st-century cultural and community center; more than 300,000 people visit 92Y annually, and millions more participate in 92Y’s digital and online initiatives. Under Henry’s leadership, 92Y is re-imagining the role of the traditional community center, using innovative programming and new technology to create community both locally and globally. As executive director, Henry oversees the organization’s 40+ businesses, including critically-acclaimed performing and visual arts programs; a world-renowned series of talks and readings; a huge range of family and wellness programming; professional development opportunities; and more.

In 2012, Henry rallied the resources of 92Y and the power of partners like the United Nations Foundation to found #GivingTuesday, which engaged more than 10,000 partners in a global day of giving that was honored with a Cannes Lion at the International Festival of Creativity; a PRWeek Global Award for Nonprofit Campaign of the Year; and the inaugural UJA-Federation Riklis Prize in Agency Entrepreneurship. Henry also led the team that created the first annual Social Good Summit at 92Y in 2010, which led to a MOOC (massive open online course) called “How to Change the World,” offered with Wesleyan University; 51,000 students participated.

Since his arrival at 92Y in 2008, Henry has inspired the organization to develop a range of other groundbreaking initiatives and partnerships, including Campaign for the American Conversation with Harvard and Stanford universities, and with NYCEDC, the NYC Venture Fellows and NYC Fashion Fellows.

Henry is a finalist for the 2014 American Express NGen Leadership Award and a practitioner in Residence at the Stanford Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society (Stanford PACS). He is a member of the selection committee for the 2015 CECP Excellence Awards and a U.S. Trustee and Fellow of the Royal Society for the Arts (RSA), where he is also chair of the nominating committee for the RSA’s Benjamin Franklin Medal

He is a dual citizen of the U.S. and the U.K., and lives in New York City with his wife and two young children.